In the local POCO service area for the last 35 years I know of, every meter loop installed on a wooden meter pole required an unbroken #6 cu. bare conductor stapled to the pole, connected to the POCO service neutral above the weatherhead and down to a copper ground rod at the bottom of the pole. A bare #6 cu.jumper was run from the neutral buss in service panel to that #6 cu. attached to the pole.
Today, questions are coming up that this creates a parallel neutral path with one inside the conduit and one outside stapled to the pole.
It was suggested that in the event of a bad connection there could be a potential difference between bare pole ground and the meter loop. I have not seen this happen and the original thought was a parallel path would prevent large voltage fluctuations if the service neutral connection was lost at the weatherhead, in the meter socket or neutral buss in service panel.
Is there any reason to change what has been SOP for at least the last 50 years with no recorded issue?
is this a NEC violation?
Danke,
Today, questions are coming up that this creates a parallel neutral path with one inside the conduit and one outside stapled to the pole.
It was suggested that in the event of a bad connection there could be a potential difference between bare pole ground and the meter loop. I have not seen this happen and the original thought was a parallel path would prevent large voltage fluctuations if the service neutral connection was lost at the weatherhead, in the meter socket or neutral buss in service panel.
Is there any reason to change what has been SOP for at least the last 50 years with no recorded issue?
is this a NEC violation?
Danke,